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Winemaker's Notes

Lagrein is an old native grape, dating back at least 600 years. Heinrich's Riservas are made with an idea to preserve the full-bodied, freshly aromatic woodland berry character of the grape. He does not use any barriques and the wine is bottled a year or so after the harvest and then aged in bottle before release. DOC law allows for a Riserva to be sold 3 years after the harvest at the earliest. It is a deliciously round wine that is served well by decanting for aeration.

Critical Acclaim

RP94

The Wine Advocate - "The 2005 Lagrein Riserva is one of the more unique versions of this wine being made in Alto Adige. Texturally the wine conveys a transparency and lightness that recalls Pinot Noir, but the aromas and flavors are clearly those of Lagrein. The wine bursts onto the palate with an explosion of vibrant dark cherries, sweet herbs, earthiness and game framed by firm, yet well-integrated tannins. Initially there is a wild, almost animalistic quality to this Lagrein, yet as the wine sits in the glass it becomes more and more harmonious and the rustic notes fade into the background. This is not an easy wine by any means, but readers looking for a complex Lagrein of notable pedigree will undoubtedly find much to admire here. For optimal enjoyment the wine should be opened 30-60 minutes prior to serving. Needless to say, this is great effort from Nusserhof. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015.
I can’t say enough good things about the wines of this small estate except to remind readers that these offerings are essential drinking for anyone who wants to get a sense of the artisan tradition in Alto Adige at its very finest.
"

Weingut Nusserhof Winery

The tiny Nusserhof estate is making groundbreaking, organic, artisan Lagrein that shows the great potential of the region and grape. The Nusserhof estate lies directly beside the Isarco River facing south, practically in the center of the city of Bolzano. The Bolzano Valley Basin enjoys a fantastically warm climate and the deep alluvial soils are rich in eroded porphyry. It’s a perfect place to ripen grapes for a northern Italian climate.
View all Weingut Nusserhof Wines

About Trentino-Alto Adige

The area consists of the regions Trentino and Alto Adige, neighbors in Northeast Italy, and is part of the Tre-Venezie trifecta. The northernmost region of Italy is fairly hilly due its closeness to the the Alps, and many vines in Trentino are terraced along the hillsides for ideal sunlight benefits. Alto Adige, in turn, has more vines on the valley floors, but enjoys warmer summers. White and sparkling are the name of the game here in quality and exports, although oddly enough, more red wine is produced. The majority of this red wine is drunk locally and in neighboring countries.

Notable Facts

Reds are likely to be Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, along with a few local varieties, most notably Schiaval. The white grapes are Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Traminer and Chardonnay. Chardonnay is the most-planted and most revered, while Traminer hails from Austria and has an amazingly light body, but is also intensely floral and delicious. Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio are the international players that make lively whites of good value. The sweet spot of Trentino Alto-Adige is Vino Santo- a wine not to be confused with Tuscany's Vin Santo. Vino Santo (which means holy wine) is a sweet wine of the area made from dried grapes. Not found as much as Vin Santo, but still a treat.

About Italy

A little ditty about Italy...

This country has about as many wines as its had governments. With 20 different regions, hundreds of DOCs and even more indigenous varieties, the amount of wine made in Italy is mind-boggling. Most of the juice, however, remains in the country for thirsty Italians. Wine is food in Italy and its rare that a meal is consumed without a glass
of vino. That said, it's not common to find many folks drinking wine without food either. In turn, it's a match, and a mighty good one at that. In fact, it's safe to say that Italian wine is a foodie wine – one that goes on the table for a myraid of meals.

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Fruity

Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.

Smooth & Supple

Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.